Partnership sees accessible social housing built in Bridgend

Two new accessible bungalows have been constructed in Wildmill, Bridgend, by Linc Cymru (Linc), the south Wales housing association and care provider.

Working in partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council and Welsh Government, Linc have been able to offer temporary social housing solutions for people with disabilities, who have experienced homelessness in the county borough.

Funding for the construction of two-bedroom bungalows was awarded to Linc by the Welsh Government as part of their Phase 2 Homelessness Programme, which launched in May 2020 with the aim of providing permanent accommodation to those who were given emergency shelter during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Using just under £400,000 of the funds awarded, Linc purchased five derelict houses that had been previously developed on a plot in Wildmill and converted the properties into two-bedroom units, with the bungalow units planned for construction later that year.

As well as offering accessible living, the two bungalows are also fitted with solar panels and energy storage batteries, making them greener, more energy efficient homes.

The social housing project will be managed in conjunction with The Wallich, with the bungalows expected to start welcoming tenants next month.

Sian Diaz, Director of Development for Linc, said: “There is an urgent need for high quality, affordable homes across Wales, and we are pleased to have been able to work alongside Bridgend County Borough Council, The Wallich, and Welsh Government to provide homes for local people.

 “To be able to bring five empty homes back into use is a fantastic outcome and we have been able to utilise the space available to build additional, accessible, and attractive homes for those that need them.

“At Linc, we believe in creating the right environment for people to flourish and we hope that these homes will provide the residents with somewhere they can feel safe, secure and happy.”

This is a very good example of effective collaboration with partners to deliver accessible accommodation for people in need of housing. Working with Linc, The Wallich and Welsh Government, we have been able to respond to a growing need in the county borough for accommodation that is suitable for disabled people. The bungalows are extremely modern and bright and will provide a great temporary home for families who are waiting for more permanent accommodation to be found.

Councillor Dhanisha Patel

What you can see about Clos Quarell coming online today, is how very important it is that this site has been brought back in to use, and since being elected in 2017, I’ve actually championed bringing empty properties back into use, and it’s fantastic to see that this derelict failed site is now back in use and has added value to the community.

Councillor Stuart Baldwin

This is an excellent example of partnership working between the council, Linc, The Wallich and Welsh Government with a shared agenda of providing as many new homes as possible. Not only are these homes developed to the highest possible standards, but they are also designed for the future, with energy-efficient, built-in solar panels and energy storage batteries. We all know how difficult it is at the moment to pay those rising energy bills, so this will go a long way in helping tenants with the cost-of-living crisis that we’re facing, keeping energy bills low for homes and families but also our contributes to our green agenda, as we need our homes to be net zero carbon.

Council Leader Huw David